US-based oncology therapy developer Bicara Therapeutics publicly launched yesterday with $40m of seed funding from biopharmaceutical company Biocon.
Bicara is working on bifunctional antibodies intended to treat cancer by delivering immunomodulatory payloads to the tumour microenvironment in order to increase the activity of immune cells.
The startup’s lead product candidate, BCA101, is being studied as a potential single and combination drug and entered phase 1/2 clinical trials in July 2020. It also has a research hub in India supported by Biocon.
Claire Mazumdar, Bicara’s CEO, said: “Immune checkpoint inhibitors and targeted therapies have been important advances in cancer care – but unfortunately, far too many patients either fail to respond or stop responding as their tumours grow resistant. Our dual-action biologics have the potential to bring new hope to these patients,”
“We have brought together a team with deep experience in engineering complex biologics and a successful track record of developing [Food and Drug Administration]-approved drugs, and we are thrilled to be advancing through the clinic so quickly as we move with urgency to address the significant need for more effective cancer treatments.”
